Link operated opposed jaw latch



L. R. POE

LINK OPERATED OPPOSED JAW LATCH Filed Nov. 2l, 1968 Oct. 6, 1970INVENTOR.

FIfZ

FIG.

United States Patent O 3,532,373 LINK OPERATED OPPOSED JAW LATCH LloydRichard Poe, Beverly Hills, Calif., assgnor to Hartwell Corporation, LosAngeles, Calif., a corporation of California Filed Nov. 21, 1968, Ser.No. 777,701 Int. Cl. Ec 9/14 U.S. Cl. 292-47 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THEDISCLOSURE An opposed jaw latch having a laterally movable slide whichmay be linked to slides of companion latches; the slide being movable ina housing containing a pair of extensible and retractable, as well asrelatively pivotable,

opposed jaw members joined to the slide by a link to l effect movementof the jaw members, upon lateral reciprocation of the slide, between aclosed or bolt locking position, an intermediate bolt receivingposition, and an open position.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention is related to thefollowing copending applications: Opposed Jaw Latch, Ser. No. 762,306,filed Sept. 16, 1968, Lloyd Richard Poe et al.; and Opposed Jaw Latch,Ser. No. 775,327, filed Nov. 13, 1968, James E. Brockway.

These latches as well as the present latch have in common a pair ofopposed latch jaws which receive a shouldered latch bolt and areoperated by a reciprocable slide intended to be linked with similarlatches to work in unison. They differ, however, in construction of thelatch jaws, the slide and the connection therebetween.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The objects of this invention include:

First, to provide an opposed jaw latch in which a pair of opposed keeperjaws move between a retracted bolt locking position, and an extendedbolt releasing position through an intermediate yieldable bolt receivingposition in response to a transversely movable slide.

Second, to provide an opposed jaw latch which is intended primarily foruse in sets; that is, the slides of a pair or more of the latches areinterconnected so that the latches of a set are operated in unison.

Third, to provide an opposed jaw latch wherein the principal parts suchas the housing, keeper jaws, slide and link may be formed of inexpensivestampings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES FIG. 1 is a top view of the opposed jawlatch, shown in its closed position.

FIG. 2 is a partial sectional, partial elevational view thereof, thesectional portion being taken through 2-2 of FIG. 1, and the latch beingshown in its closed position.

FIG. 3 is a partial sectional, partial elevational view thereof,corresponding to FIG. 2, with the latch being shown in an intermediateposition for yieldably receiving a mating bolt.

FIG. 4 is another partial sectional, partial elevational view thereof,corresponding to FIG. 2, showing the latch in its fully open position.

FIG. 5 is a transverse sectional view, taken through 5 5 of FIG. 2.

SPECIFICATION The opposed jaw latch includes a housing 1, preferablyformed of sheet metal and U-shaped in cross section, to provide a pairof parallel sides 2, joined by a connecting ICC web 3. Formed centrallyin the connecting web is a guide channel 4. The sides or side plates 2are joined by a set of four rivets 5, provided with spacing and guidesleeves 6. The rivets are arranged near the margins of the side plates 2and define the corners of a rectangle.

The housing 1 receives a pair of keeper jaw members 7, each of which isU-shaped in cross section, and includes a pair of side flanges 8, joinedby a connecting web 9. The side flanges 8 terminate in overlapping pivotconnections 10, which receive a pivot shaft 11, so that the keeper jawmembers are pivotable about a common axis.

The confronting ends of the two webs 9 form jaw elements 12, whichdefine therebetween a bolt receiving opening 13.

The side plates 2 are provided with a pair of slots 14, perpendicular tothe connecting web 3 and adjacent thereto. The slots 14 receive the endsof the pivot shaft 11, which are preferably provided with heads so as tobe retained in the housing. The side flanges 8 are provided with pairsof slots 15, which accommodate the pair of rivets 5 and guide sleeves 6,remote from the connecting web 3. The slots 15 have axes which convergetoward the slots 14, and are so arranged that when the pivot shaft 11 isat its lowest position, adjacent the connecting web 3, the slots 15force the jaw elements 12 into mutual engagement, as shown in FIG. 2.When the pivot shaft 11 is at its opposite extreme position in the slots14, as shown in FIG. 4, the slots 15 and their corresponding rivets holdthe jaw elements in their open position. Intermediate their extremities,the slots 15 are widened so that the jaw elements 12 are free to move toor from each other. Springs 16, wrapped about the pivot shaft 11 andanchored in the side flanges 8, urge the jaw elements 12 toward eachother.

The housing 1 receives a slide 17 in the form of a flat plate, one edgeof which rides in the channel 4. The slide 17 is provided with arectangular clearance aperture 18, which receives the lowermost set ofrivets 5 and their guide sleeves; that is, the rivets adjacent theconnecting web 3. The aperture 18 is of sufficient width to expose theslots 14 in the housing, so as to permit the desired movement of thepivot shaft 11. The upper margin of the slide remote from the web 3 andits channel 4 is held against lateral displacement by guide grooves 19,provided in the sleeves 6 which receive the upper set of connectingrivets 5.

The slide 17 is connected to the pivot shaft 11 by a pair of links 20,disposed on opposite sides of the slide and joined through the slide bya pivot pin 21. The links cause the keeper jaw members 7 to move betweenthe position shown in FIG. 2 and the position shown in FIG. 4 when theslide 17 is reciprocated.

The opposed jaw latch is intended to engage a bolt 22, having a head 23,forming a retention shoulder 24, as shown in FIG. 3 of the drawings.

Operation of the opposed jaw latch is as follows:

It is intended to use a pair or more of the latches and operate them inunison to engage corresponding bolts 22. The slides 17 of the set oflatches are joined together by any suitable linkage, holes 25 beingprovided in the extremities of the slides for this purpose.

When the slide 17 of each latch is in one extreme position, as shown inFIG. 2, the jaw elements 12 are held in their mutually contacting orclosed position in which the opening 13 ts around the head of the bolt,and the margins of the jaw elements engage the shoulder 24. When theslide 17 is moved to its opposite extreme position, as shown in FIG. 4,the jaw elements 12 are held in their open position so that the bolt maypass freely between the jaw elements in either direction. When the slideis in the intermediate position, shown in FIG. 3, the jaw elements tendto occupy their mutually closed position, represented in FIG. 2, byaction of the springs 16. However, the head of the bolt which may bepointed functions as a cam to spread the jaw elements until the head 23passes therebetween permitting the jaw elements to close behind theshoulder 24.

While particular embodiments of this invention have been shown anddescribed it is not intended to limit the same to the details of theconstructions set forth, but instead, the invention embraces suchchanges, modifications and equivalents of the various parts and theirrelationships as come within the purview of the appended claims.

vI claim:

1. An opposed jaw latch adapted for engagement with a bolt, said latchcomprising:

(a) a housing having a spaced side plates;

(b) a pair of jaw members mounted therebetween, each jaw memberincluding a pair of side flanges positioned adjacent said side platesand a web joining said side flanges and forming a jew elementconfronting the jaw element of the other jaw member;

(c) pin and slot means including pivot pins extending through said sideplates and side flanges and slots for said pins formed in said sideplates and side fianges, said pins and slots being so located as toeffect relative pivotal movement of said jaw members upon translatorymovement thereof relative to said housing for causing said jaw elementsto engage and disengage said bolt;

(d) a slide reciprocable in said housing transversely to the translatorymovement of said jaw members;

(e) and a link means joining said slide and jaw members to cause openingand closing of said jaw elements with respect to said bolt.

2. A latch, as defined in claim 1, wherein:

(a) said pin and slot means includes a movable pin journalling said jawmembers about a common axis; slot means receiving said housing sideplates defining the translatory path of said jaw members; a pair ofiixed pins secured in said housing, and slot means in said jaw membersconverging toward said movable pin.

3. A latch, as dened in claim 2, wherein:

(a) spring means urges said jaw members toward their closed positions;

(b) and the slot means in said jaw members being laterally enlargedintermediate their ends to permit yieldable spreading of said jaws bysaid bolt when said jaw members are in an intermediate position withrespect to said fixed pins.

4. An opposed jaw latch adapted for engagement with a bolt, said latchcomprising:

(a) a housing including a pair of side plates;

(b) guide and spacing means securing said side plates in spacedrelation;

(c) a pair of jaw members, each including a pair of side flangesdisposed adjacent said side plates, and a latch jaw element connectingsaid side fianges;

(d) a pivot pin pivotally connecting said jaw members for movement ofsaid jaw elements to and from each other to engage and disengage saidbolt;

(e) said pivot pin to permit translatory movement of said jaw members;

(f) the side flanges of said jaw members having slots to receiveselected guide and spacing means to effect relative movement of said jawelements to and from each other on sliding movement of said pivot pin inits slots;

(g) a slide member apertured to receive said guide and spacing means andreciprocable in a direction transverse to the translatory movement ofsaid jaw members;

(h) and link means connecting said slide member and said jaw members toeffect operation of said jaw members on reciprocation of said slidemember.

5. A latch, as defined in claim 4, wherein:

(a) springs interconnect said jaw members to urge said jaw elementstoward locking engagement with said bolt;

(b) and the slots in the side flanges of said jaw members aredimensioned at their extremities to fix said jaw elements in their openor closed positions upon fixing said slide in corresponding positions,and said slots being widened intermediate their ends to permit spreadingof said jaw members in opposition to said spring when said slide isfixed in an intermediate position thereby to permit forcing said boltbetween said jaw elements.

6. A latch, as dened in claim 4, wherein:

(a) said housing and jaw members being formed of sheet metal and beingU-shaped in cross section.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,297,264 3/1919 Wisniewski 70-702,817,492 12/1957 Case 254-24 3,043,617 7/ 1962 Shelton 292-6 3,235,1242/1966 Koever 2120-553 MARVIN A. CHAMPION, Primary Examiner R. L. WOLFE,Assistant Examiner U.S. Cl. XR. 292-53

